Valdez Halibut Derby Update: New Leader Emerges

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

BEING A JERK PAYS OFF FOR JEWKES IN THE VALDEZ HALIBUT DERBY

VALDEZ, Alaska – Nice weather and calm seas are allowing charters and private anglers alike to access the fishing grounds in Prince William Sound. While many charters are returning to Port with their limits, it was Diane Jewkes of North Pole who caught a 113-pound halibut and got on the leader board at the start of week two of the Valdez Halibut Derby. Jewkes caught her fish while jigging and said she and her husband do not go too far out into the Gulf and tend to fish Glacier Island, Knowles, and Orca Bay. “We like to go out and spend the night and then fish for two days,” said Jewkes.

“I have a white jig that has an eye on one end, and it’s a double hook, and I just jig,” Jewkes said. “You put it on the bottom, and you kind of jig up and down as the boat’s not moving enough, and then when you feel a bite, you jerk up. I said, I tell people we’re jerkers, we like to jerk, we like to feel that fish on the end of the line.” When asked for a tip, Jewkes offered this advice about catching a big halibut, “I think you have to keep steady pressure, because if you reel, if you don’t keep that line taught, the fish is able to shake that hook out of their mouth.” Jewkes is not just a jerk when it comes to halibut. She also said she loves to jig for bottom fish. “They are just easier than halibut, but they still have a nice jerk and a nice pull, and it’s fun to feel that pull and that tug when you’re reeling up 110-feet or 120 feet from the bottom it’s just a lot of fun”. Jewkes is currently leading the Valdez Halibut Derby. Nathan Kennedy of Fairbanks is currently in second place overall with a 103.6-pound halibut and Tina Gray of Fairbanks caught a 102.4-pound halibut on Sunday to get on the board in third  place. Jewkes won the first-place weekly prize and Gray won the second-place weekly prize.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports anglers are producing fair catches of mostly smaller halibut near the entrances into Prince William Sound including Montague Strait, Hinchinbrook Entrance, Orca Inlet, and other passages. ADF&G expects fishing to improve as more large fish begin to move into Prince William Sound from offshore in the Gulf of Alaska.

The 10-day Halibut Hullabaloo tournament will kick off this Friday, June 12 and the angler catching the largest halibut between June 12 and 21 stands to win $1,000 cash in addition to the regular Valdez Halibut Derby prizes. There is no additional fee to participate in the Halibut Hullabaloo Tournament or the Silver Derby Slam Tournaments as a regular derby ticket is all that is needed to qualify for the additional cash prizes.

While halibut derby anglers will be competing hard for the Halibut Hullabaloo prize and an opportunity to get on the overall leader board, salmon anglers are writing dates on their calendar. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon is slated for Saturday, July 25. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is free and open to kids aged 5 to 16. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby will start July 25 and run through September 6. In addition to daily prizes in the Silver Salmon Derby, salmon anglers can win big money during the new “Salmon Slam” Contest August 28 through September 6. The angler catching the largest silver salmon during this time will win $1,000 in addition to derby prizes. The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is on August 8 with an opening event on August 7. For more information on the derbies, events, or standings, visit www.valdezfishderbies.com

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Diane Jewkes                   North Pole, AK                               113.0 lbs.         June 1^st                               Moscato Myst

2^nd            Nathan Kennedy            Fairbanks, AK                                 103.6 lbs.         May 23^rd                             Chugach Girl

3^rd        Tina Gray                             Fairbanks, AK                                 102.4 lbs.         June 6^th                               Lena Claire

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – May 31^st through June 6^th

1^st        Diane Jewkes                   North Pole, AK                                113.0 lbs.         June 1^st                               Moscato Myst

2^nd            Tina Gray                             Fairbanks, AK                                 102.4 lbs.         June 6^th                              Lena Claire